Bracket of Integrity
Quick thoughts on my bracket picks...
FIRST ROUND
South
1. Kentucky over 16. Western Kentucky
9. UConn over 8. Iowa St
I'm not getting sucked in by the UConn brand. I just think UConn has way more talent than the Cyclones.
5. Wichita St. over 12. VCU
4. Indiana over 13. New Mexico St.
6. UNLV over 11. Colorado
If we learned anything tonight from USF's victory it's that the Pac-12 is garbage.
3. Baylor over 14. South Dakota St.
10. Xavier over 7. Notre Dame
Give me Xavier stud Tu Holloway over anything the Irish can throw out there.
2. Duke over 15. Lehigh
West
1. Michigan St. over 16. LIU Brooklyn
8. Memphis over 9. Saint Louis
Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus is the bigger name but Josh Pastner is the better coach.
5. New Mexico over 12. Long Beach State
I really wanted to pick Long Beach State, with their brilliant guard Casper Ware, but the 49ers might be without another senior, Larry Anderson, their second leading scorer.
4. Louisville over 13. Davidson
Sorry to my Davidson alumni friends; Steph Curry doesn't live here anymore.
5. Murray St. over Colorado St.
3. Marquette over 14. BYU
7. Florida over 10. Virginia
2. Missouri over 15. Norfolk St.
East
1. Syracuse over 16. UNC-Asheville
We're all having nightmares about this game up in Syracuse, but ultimately it won't be close.
8. Kansas St. over 9. Southern Miss
12. Harvard over 5. Vanderbilt
Yeah, I'm pulling the trigger on this upset, which would be the fourth straight for Vanderbilt. Some supposedly "hot" teams stay hot in the tournament. Others fold. I'm thinking the Commodores go cold against Ivy League style.
4. Wisconsin over 13. Montana
6. Cincinnati over 11. Texas
3. Florida St. over 14. Saint Bonaventure
In another bracket I'm taking the Bonnies to the Elite Eight, mostly because my favorite cousin, Brian, was a team manager as an undergrad at St. Bonaventure. Like Vanderbilt, Florida State could cool off too, but I think they'll be too much for the Bonnies. I'll get as much use as I can out of my two St. Bonaventure hats until then.
7. Gonzaga over 10. West Virginia
2. Ohio State over 15. Loyola (MD)
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 16. Vermont
8. Creighton over 9. Alabama
In most years I try to split my 8-9 picks among the half dozen or so brackets I fill out. This year I think I have Creighton advancing every single time. North Carolina and the nation will remember Doug McDermott's name before this tournament is said and done.
12. South Florida over 5. Temple
I like the 12-seed upset when it is a major conference team. I've also loved USF's coach, Stan Heath, since his MAC days at Kent State.
13. Ohio over 4. Michigan
Speaking of the MAC, I believe their conference is perennially underrated in the tournament. These teams are almost as good as the Missouri Valley Conference, home of Wichita St. and Creighton but they haven't been seeded as well in recent years. I think Michigan fans will, at least for a day, curse Ohio more thank the big state school.
11. NC State over 6. San Diego St.
I don't love NC State's talent, but I think they're the 11-seed that makes the second round.
3. Georgetown over 14. Belmont
7. Saint Mary's over 10. Purdue
2. Kansas over 15. Detroit
Typical for Kansas, this will be closer than expected. Detroit sophomore point guard Ray McCallum is a stud who will attack the paint with abandon. If his teammates can get hot from outside, Detroit could pull off a shocker. But I'll wait until the next time Detroit and McCallum dance to pick them to advance.
SECOND ROUND
South
1. Kentucky over 8. UConn
5. Wichita St. over 4. Indiana
This has been a great season for Indiana, but I think they are a year away from really being a team to fear. Wichita St., on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a mid-major Cinderella: the token 7-footer, the strong shooting, and the next-big-thing head coach.
3. Baylor over 6. UNLV
2. Duke over 7. Xavier
West
1. Michigan St. over 8. Memphis
5. New Mexico over 4. Louisville
Louisville is a hot-and-cold, all-or-nothing team. New Mexico is steady and solid and will catch the Cardinals on a cold day.
3. Marquette over 6. Murray St.
7. Florida over 2. Missouri
I don't love this pick. But Florida can get hot and Billy Donovan, who 10 years ago I thought was all recruiter and no Xs and Os, has become a fantastic game coach. Marcus Denmon of Missouri is a great player, but I just don't buy the Tigers' package. In the 21st century NCAA starting four seniors is a sign of limited talent.
East
1. Syracuse over 8. Kansas State
Yeah, I know. Kansas State will kill the Orange on the boards. Guess what? SU has been losing the rebounding battle all year and still winning games. Aside from a handful of offensive rebound put-backs, how is Kansas State going to score? SU survives and advances.
4. Wisconsin over 12. Harvard
6. Cincinnati over 3. Florida State
Two great defensive teams clash here. Both are also streaky from outside. The difference is Yancey Gates for Cincy, who will outplay the Seminoles' two senior big men.
2. Ohio State over 7. Gonzaga
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 8. Creighton
12. South Florida over 13. Ohio
3. Georgetown over 11. NC State
7. Saint Mary's over 2. Kansas
Matthew Dellavedova. Pronounced like its spelled.
SWEET SIXTEEN
South
1. Kentucky over 5. Wichita State
3. Baylor over 2. Duke
Perry Jones III will destroy this hapless Duke defense.
West
5. New Mexico over 1. Michigan State
The Spartans are missing two players from their regular rotation. That will catch up to them in Phoenix.
3. Marquette over 7. Florida
East
1. Syracuse over 4. Wisconsin
Notre Dame caused SU problems with its slow-down style, and they'll look like road runners compared to Bo Ryan's Badgers. But by the same token, Wisconsin is incapable of running away from the Orange. SU's experience in close games, and it's depth of players who can attack the rim and get to the line in late-game situations will put them over the top.
2. Ohio State over 6. Cincinnati
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 12. South Florida
7. Saint Mary's over 3. Georgetown
The Hoyas should have played a pre-season tournament in Australia instead of China to prep for the 5 Aussies on Saint Mary's. I was surprised the Gaels got the same seed as fellow WCC conference members Gonzaga, as Saint Mary's was a notch better this year.
ELITE EIGHT
1. Kentucky over 3. Baylor
Too much talent, and while Calipari's recent tournament record has been spotty, he's made the Final Four twice before and will do so again out of a relatively easy region.
3. Marquette over 5. New Mexico
I love the Golden Eagles. I love Jae Crowder. I love Dennis Johnson-Odom. I love Buzz Williams. These guys will have at least two come-from-behind wins en route to the Final Four.
2. Ohio State over 1. Syracuse
This feels about right. Jared Sullinger and his talented teammates will pick SU's Melo-less defense apart. SU will hang in the game until the end, but will trail most of the way and fall short.
1. North Carolina over 7. Saint Mary's
If Roy Williams and the Tar Heels haven't blown a lead and a game by now, they'll be the team to beat.
FINAL FOUR
1. Kentucky over 3. Marquette
Finally, the Crowder-DJO show comes to an end against the defense and talent of the Wildcats.
1. North Carolina over 2. Ohio State
Zeller will handle Sullinger while Barnes, Henson, and company pile on the points. The Tar Heels win big.
CHAMPIONSHIP
1. North Carolina over 1. Kentucky
A Duke fan's nightmare come true. I hate both teams, but I think they are the best two in the bracket. Anthony Davis is the greatest unibrowed player in the tournament, but North Carolina actually has more talent than Kentucky. Roy Williams has done it before. John Calipari hasn't sealed the deal. Although the run won't be dominant, and Tar Heel fans will have multiple heart attacks along the way, Roy will get it done.
FIRST ROUND
South
1. Kentucky over 16. Western Kentucky
9. UConn over 8. Iowa St
I'm not getting sucked in by the UConn brand. I just think UConn has way more talent than the Cyclones.
5. Wichita St. over 12. VCU
4. Indiana over 13. New Mexico St.
6. UNLV over 11. Colorado
If we learned anything tonight from USF's victory it's that the Pac-12 is garbage.
3. Baylor over 14. South Dakota St.
10. Xavier over 7. Notre Dame
Give me Xavier stud Tu Holloway over anything the Irish can throw out there.
2. Duke over 15. Lehigh
West
1. Michigan St. over 16. LIU Brooklyn
8. Memphis over 9. Saint Louis
Saint Louis coach Rick Majerus is the bigger name but Josh Pastner is the better coach.
5. New Mexico over 12. Long Beach State
I really wanted to pick Long Beach State, with their brilliant guard Casper Ware, but the 49ers might be without another senior, Larry Anderson, their second leading scorer.
4. Louisville over 13. Davidson
Sorry to my Davidson alumni friends; Steph Curry doesn't live here anymore.
5. Murray St. over Colorado St.
3. Marquette over 14. BYU
7. Florida over 10. Virginia
2. Missouri over 15. Norfolk St.
East
1. Syracuse over 16. UNC-Asheville
We're all having nightmares about this game up in Syracuse, but ultimately it won't be close.
8. Kansas St. over 9. Southern Miss
12. Harvard over 5. Vanderbilt
Yeah, I'm pulling the trigger on this upset, which would be the fourth straight for Vanderbilt. Some supposedly "hot" teams stay hot in the tournament. Others fold. I'm thinking the Commodores go cold against Ivy League style.
4. Wisconsin over 13. Montana
6. Cincinnati over 11. Texas
3. Florida St. over 14. Saint Bonaventure
In another bracket I'm taking the Bonnies to the Elite Eight, mostly because my favorite cousin, Brian, was a team manager as an undergrad at St. Bonaventure. Like Vanderbilt, Florida State could cool off too, but I think they'll be too much for the Bonnies. I'll get as much use as I can out of my two St. Bonaventure hats until then.
7. Gonzaga over 10. West Virginia
2. Ohio State over 15. Loyola (MD)
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 16. Vermont
8. Creighton over 9. Alabama
In most years I try to split my 8-9 picks among the half dozen or so brackets I fill out. This year I think I have Creighton advancing every single time. North Carolina and the nation will remember Doug McDermott's name before this tournament is said and done.
12. South Florida over 5. Temple
I like the 12-seed upset when it is a major conference team. I've also loved USF's coach, Stan Heath, since his MAC days at Kent State.
13. Ohio over 4. Michigan
Speaking of the MAC, I believe their conference is perennially underrated in the tournament. These teams are almost as good as the Missouri Valley Conference, home of Wichita St. and Creighton but they haven't been seeded as well in recent years. I think Michigan fans will, at least for a day, curse Ohio more thank the big state school.
11. NC State over 6. San Diego St.
I don't love NC State's talent, but I think they're the 11-seed that makes the second round.
3. Georgetown over 14. Belmont
7. Saint Mary's over 10. Purdue
2. Kansas over 15. Detroit
Typical for Kansas, this will be closer than expected. Detroit sophomore point guard Ray McCallum is a stud who will attack the paint with abandon. If his teammates can get hot from outside, Detroit could pull off a shocker. But I'll wait until the next time Detroit and McCallum dance to pick them to advance.
SECOND ROUND
South
1. Kentucky over 8. UConn
5. Wichita St. over 4. Indiana
This has been a great season for Indiana, but I think they are a year away from really being a team to fear. Wichita St., on the other hand, has all the characteristics of a mid-major Cinderella: the token 7-footer, the strong shooting, and the next-big-thing head coach.
3. Baylor over 6. UNLV
2. Duke over 7. Xavier
West
1. Michigan St. over 8. Memphis
5. New Mexico over 4. Louisville
Louisville is a hot-and-cold, all-or-nothing team. New Mexico is steady and solid and will catch the Cardinals on a cold day.
3. Marquette over 6. Murray St.
7. Florida over 2. Missouri
I don't love this pick. But Florida can get hot and Billy Donovan, who 10 years ago I thought was all recruiter and no Xs and Os, has become a fantastic game coach. Marcus Denmon of Missouri is a great player, but I just don't buy the Tigers' package. In the 21st century NCAA starting four seniors is a sign of limited talent.
East
1. Syracuse over 8. Kansas State
Yeah, I know. Kansas State will kill the Orange on the boards. Guess what? SU has been losing the rebounding battle all year and still winning games. Aside from a handful of offensive rebound put-backs, how is Kansas State going to score? SU survives and advances.
4. Wisconsin over 12. Harvard
6. Cincinnati over 3. Florida State
Two great defensive teams clash here. Both are also streaky from outside. The difference is Yancey Gates for Cincy, who will outplay the Seminoles' two senior big men.
2. Ohio State over 7. Gonzaga
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 8. Creighton
12. South Florida over 13. Ohio
3. Georgetown over 11. NC State
7. Saint Mary's over 2. Kansas
Matthew Dellavedova. Pronounced like its spelled.
SWEET SIXTEEN
South
1. Kentucky over 5. Wichita State
3. Baylor over 2. Duke
Perry Jones III will destroy this hapless Duke defense.
West
5. New Mexico over 1. Michigan State
The Spartans are missing two players from their regular rotation. That will catch up to them in Phoenix.
3. Marquette over 7. Florida
East
1. Syracuse over 4. Wisconsin
Notre Dame caused SU problems with its slow-down style, and they'll look like road runners compared to Bo Ryan's Badgers. But by the same token, Wisconsin is incapable of running away from the Orange. SU's experience in close games, and it's depth of players who can attack the rim and get to the line in late-game situations will put them over the top.
2. Ohio State over 6. Cincinnati
Midwest
1. North Carolina over 12. South Florida
7. Saint Mary's over 3. Georgetown
The Hoyas should have played a pre-season tournament in Australia instead of China to prep for the 5 Aussies on Saint Mary's. I was surprised the Gaels got the same seed as fellow WCC conference members Gonzaga, as Saint Mary's was a notch better this year.
ELITE EIGHT
1. Kentucky over 3. Baylor
Too much talent, and while Calipari's recent tournament record has been spotty, he's made the Final Four twice before and will do so again out of a relatively easy region.
3. Marquette over 5. New Mexico
I love the Golden Eagles. I love Jae Crowder. I love Dennis Johnson-Odom. I love Buzz Williams. These guys will have at least two come-from-behind wins en route to the Final Four.
2. Ohio State over 1. Syracuse
This feels about right. Jared Sullinger and his talented teammates will pick SU's Melo-less defense apart. SU will hang in the game until the end, but will trail most of the way and fall short.
1. North Carolina over 7. Saint Mary's
If Roy Williams and the Tar Heels haven't blown a lead and a game by now, they'll be the team to beat.
FINAL FOUR
1. Kentucky over 3. Marquette
Finally, the Crowder-DJO show comes to an end against the defense and talent of the Wildcats.
1. North Carolina over 2. Ohio State
Zeller will handle Sullinger while Barnes, Henson, and company pile on the points. The Tar Heels win big.
CHAMPIONSHIP
1. North Carolina over 1. Kentucky
A Duke fan's nightmare come true. I hate both teams, but I think they are the best two in the bracket. Anthony Davis is the greatest unibrowed player in the tournament, but North Carolina actually has more talent than Kentucky. Roy Williams has done it before. John Calipari hasn't sealed the deal. Although the run won't be dominant, and Tar Heel fans will have multiple heart attacks along the way, Roy will get it done.
posted by Prof. A at 12:22 AM
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